When Mariott Hotels chief sales and marketing officer Julius Robinson told Hotel Dive reporter Jenna Walters in an interview last year that "large group meetings are back," we were a little skeptical. Trade show attendance seemed soft, and some long-time exhibitors were taking a pass on travel.
But this year, sure enough, we're seeing signs that when it's time to figure out sales strategies, people seem ready to say goodbye to Zoom meetings and post-Covid anxiety. It seems that they like getting together in person, and the more fun and friendly the setting, the better!
Witness WorldWide Electric's whimsical post on LinkedIn, showing how much fun was to be had at its last Annual Sales Meeting. The event was held at a TopGolf venue ("It's golf. It's not golf.")., and the photo montage makes it clear that district sales manager Jose Alicea and his colleagues were "all teed up" to get a lot of networking done..
Reinforcing that this might be a trend, the Calendar section of Electrical Apparatus has received more entries this year than ever, many at idyllic resorts. A few examples: The Hydraulic Institute is headed to the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa next week for its annual conference. In May, the Electrical Equipment Representatives Association’s Annual Meeting will be held at California's scenic Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. Also in May, members of NAED will be headed to subtropical Marco Island, Fla., for their 2025 Annual Meeting.
Trade show attendance, too. is on the rise, and exhibitor presence is growing. EASA recently sent out a "don't wait" message, advising companies that its 2025 convention in Nashville is already 85% sold out.
So if you're among those that have been holding back on meetings away from home, this might be the year to get back in the pool - Â - on-site, Â in person, and in time to make the most of 2025. .